Improvement in gate-latches



l'tintcd (tatte aient @Mitte Letters Patent No. 96,147, dated October 26, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN' GATE-LATCHES.

The Schedulereferred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, F. M. RANOXS, of Little Shasta Valley, in the county of Shasta, and State of California, have invented a new and improved Gate-Latch; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will. enable others skilled in the art to makeand use the same,

`reference being had to the accompanying drawing,

forming part of this specification.

rlhe object of this invention is to provide a cheap and simple gate-latch, calculated to be better' adapted for securely fastening gates than any now in use, and less liable to be disarranged by the settling ot' the gates.

It consists in a sliding latch, having a hooked end, anda spiral spring, arranged to constantly draw the latch into the case, which is fixed on the gate, in conneet-ion wit-h adouble-bevelled catch, which draws the latch lengthwise, and at the same time raises it when the. gate shuts, and behind which the hooked end of the latch is drawn back into a notch bythe spring, beingforced down by a longitudinal spring, the said notch holding the gate closed, and preventing the latch from being lifted up by animals, all as hereinafter more fully specified.

Figure l represents a front elevation of niy iniproved gate-fastening, with the side of thel case re' moved. i

Figure 2 represents a top view of the same. Similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a sliding latch, arranged in a case, B, to be fastened to the gate.

The outer end of the latch is provided with a hooked point, bent downward and backward, as represented at C, in dotted lines.

dency to draw it back, vand a longitudinal sprin g to force. the latch down, when lifted in latching.

E represents a double-bevelled catch,l to be fastened to the post, and having a notch behind the iiertical face, into which the hooked point U is drawn by the spring, when the gate closes. ,This notch preventsv the bolt from being raised up.

The case of the bolt is made wider than the bolt, to aiiord room for the latch to he raised to the top of the horizontal face of the catch when the gate sags, the horizontal face of said catch being bevelled, to allow the latch to slide into place without difficulty.

F representsa thumb-piece, for sliding the bolt for unfastening the gate.

G represents the longitudinal spring placed in the case, and resting on the upper side of the latch, to hold and force itto its place in the catch.

Having thus described my invention,

VVha-t I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

The catch E, constructed as described, in combination with the hooked slide-latch A, and springs D and G, all arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and described, for the. purpose speciiied.

F. M. RANONS.

iVitnesses:

H. S. STEWART, E. STEELE.

The rear end is connected tothe case by a coiled spring, D, having a constant ten- Y 

